Wash Needs a Vote of Confidence
by pblack on Apr 13, 2009 2:49 PM CDT
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I have advocated changing managers since the second week of Ron Washington's tenure as the Ranger manager. I have found his in-game strategy to be poor and I have seen little on the field to show me that he is having a positive influence on the team. His hiring seems to have been an overcorrection from the unfortunate Showalter era and he seems better suited as a coach than a manger.
That being said, if he is going to be the manager he needs the full support of the organization, which it does not seem he has. It has been reported numerous times that Wash needs a strong start or he could be unempolyed by Labor Day. And I think we saw the results of that perspective yesterday. Let me compare 2 games from yesterday for you.
Game1: Cardinals v. Astros. The Cardinals starter, Kyle Lohse, was dominant in holding the Astros down. He was still on the mound in the ninth inning nursing a 3-0 lead at home when he began to unravel a bit. A single and a walk put two men on with two outs for Berkman. With a poor bullpen (practically Ranger-esque) LaRussa made the somewhat unconventional decision to stick with Lohse, who induced a fly out from Berkman to end the game.
Game 2: Rangers v. Tigers. You all know the situation so I won't rehash it, but Millwood had been dominant. The eighth began with the Tigers 8-9-1 hitters due up, but Wash took the conventional, or "safe", route, and brought in his 8th inning pitcher. The game unraveled and the Rangers lost.
I think that even if Wash had wanted to leave Millwood in the game, he simply didn't feel he could. It is much easier to justify bringing in Wilson to start the eighth than it is to justify leaving Millwood in the game. By bringing in Wilson he was more protected from being second guessed, in his mind. Second, I think Wash feels like these are must win games in April. He has to treat them like late season, pennant race games. Even with a 4 run lead and a dominant starter and the bottom of the order coming up, Wash wanted to make sure the game was a win, so he erroneously turned to Wilson.
I think his perception of needing April wins is having an adverse effect on his management. He might have made these decisions anyway, I don't know, but it can't be a good thing for his handlng of the team for him to feel like he is 30 days away from being unemployed. I think the Rangers should commit to him for the year and be done with it. I think this would help Wash feel a bit more comfortable and might help his decision making if he feels some margin for error.
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I agree.
That is all.
I'm just goofin' new boot goofin'
by iorange555 on Apr 13, 2009 2:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
They are committed to paying him through the end of the year
that is all the committment he should expect. The “Vote of Confidence” usually means you will be fired anyway.
I don’t see Wash managing much differently from how he normally would anyway.
"The idea that the Rangers are going to be a solid contender for a number of years is a fantasy." - Adam J. Morris
by DJCahill on Apr 13, 2009 3:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Isnt
that the biggest kiss of death in pro sports? Seems like it happens a few times per yr in the NFL.
by Michael Cave on Apr 13, 2009 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
By the way,
I think his decision with Millwood was absolutely correct. Just because CJ Wilson screwed the pooch, doesn’t mean Wash’s decision was wrong.
"The idea that the Rangers are going to be a solid contender for a number of years is a fantasy." - Adam J. Morris
by DJCahill on Apr 13, 2009 3:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
yeah i disagree as well
Millwood was at a pretty high pitch count at that point, and the 8th inning started 8,9,1, so I think Wash was correct to assume Wilson would be able to get the job done.
As for the vote of confidence, I just don’t agree at all. And this ties in with the Chris Davis situation. I know that a lot of this game is mental, but these are professionals. They need to have thick skin and understand the reality of their profession. If they perform, they are safe. If not, action may be taken. In Wash’s case, a statement of confidence from management means nothing because he knows the situation at this point. It would come off as lip service.
As for Davis, if he was benched one game, I think he would understand. Andy LaRoche (a similar hyped up second year guy) was benched today in their home opener because of his dismal start, and yet I didn’t hear that he went to his brother’s home and cried himself to sleep. This isn’t kindergarten. These are grown men.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
by clark on Apr 13, 2009 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
laroche
different kind of guy in almost every way - but i get your point
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Apr 13, 2009 4:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
different how?
granted, he hasn’t yet had the big league success that Davis enjoyed during the last half of last season, but he was certainly as highly touted, if not more so. it would seem that benching him would have the same affect that it would have on Davis.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
by clark on Apr 13, 2009 6:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
he was highly touted a few years ago
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Apr 13, 2009 6:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
apple oranges comparison
Millwood threw 112 pitches in 7 innings. Lohse pitched 112 for the whole game. I think Wash would leave Millwood in the game if he were one out from a complete game shutout.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
by RangerMad on Apr 13, 2009 3:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The blame for Sunday's game lies with CJ, not with Washington
Millwood was at 112 pitches after seven innings, so sending him out for the eighth means he’d likely finish eight innings at, what, 130 pitches in his second start of the season? That’s a pretty high pitch count. Plus, last time Millwood pitched seven innings, CJ and Fx2 pitched a perfect eighth and ninth and everyone was talking about how great the pitching was on opening day.
In fact, four runs is enough of a lead that I’d have felt safe bringing in someone from the back of the bullpen to get some work. However, given that the team had lost two straight (in a stadium that’s been a house of horrors for the teamn lately) and had gotten the ace-like performance that it sorely needed from Millwood, and given that CJ is supposed to be one of the two best guys in the bullpen, I fully understand and endorse the decision to use the best guys available to slam the door, even in a non-save situation, to make sure that valuable win is ours. CJ had given up one run in three innings this year. the day before, he pitched a scoreless inning in seven pitches. I was completely sure when CJ came in for the eighth (I was tracking the game on my phone while driving) that the Rangers were going to win that game.
by Inkara1 on Apr 13, 2009 3:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I have Questions About Washington
But like others have said I don’t have questions about his decision keep Millwood in the dugout after he pitched the seventh.
It’s early in the year. This is Millwood’s second start. In his first he threw a lot of pitches, too. If it were even May that would not bother me and I’d leave him in if I were managing, but it’s so early and Millwood is old and brittle.
Two innings remaining. You’re on the road but it’s a pitcher’s park. Four run lead. Link Inkara says I think you can put just about anybody in at that point and normally you’d come out fine. Yesterday was different, though. Wilson comes in and surrenders the solo shot. Not a big deal. A Texas Leaguer was flared out to right. Sometimes that shit happens. And then a play was not made by Andrus. At this point you have only a three run lead. Even though the last two balls weren’t hit hard, that’s when you bring in your closer. Not another guy set up guy. The guy who closes out your ballgame, because that’s exactly what was on the line at that point.
And if that’s how Washington managed, we probably wouldn’t be bitching and moaning about CJ Wilson. Was Wilson good? Hell, no. He was a combination of bad and unfortunate. But he didn’t keep himself in that damn game.
Yesterday was just a fucked up day in Rangerland, period. Ordinarily I think that lead would have been preserved, but it seems like once the Tigers smelled blood it was all over. Honestly if Washington put Frank Frank on the hill I think the Rangers were going to lose regardless, but at least we would be complaining about Francisco. Not Wilson, Francisco, and Madrigal.
Seriously, I think the “closer” thing got out of hand a long time ago, and that probably has a lot to to with LaRussa. Before there were one inning closers there were "firemen’. Guys who were brought in to put out fires, and it didn’t matter if it were the 7th or the 9th inning. These guys had respect.
It’s time for a new stat to be invented, I think. “Hold” doesn’t do it. But there needs to be some counting stat that’s just as prestigious as a “save” so the baseball world (players, fans, management — everyone) realizes the importance of preserving a tie or lead. Then your best pitcher comes in when he’s needed and won’t bitch about it not being a “save opportunity” because he’s got some other stat that’s just as “good”. Follow me? I hope I’m making sense.
That wouldn’t have saved the day yesterday as the Rangers don’t have a “fireman”, but it’s something to think about I guess.
by Black Francis on Apr 13, 2009 5:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
There are several errors in the preceeding post.
I just got home from work. But you get the gist.
by Black Francis on Apr 13, 2009 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually, wasn't Fx2 a pretty good "fireman" for most of last year before he became the closer?
by Inkara1 on Apr 13, 2009 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
the problem is that he’s the only arm in the pen that’s above average. We need a Carlos Almanzar like nobody’s business.
Marcus Lemon is the Third Baseman/Leadoff Hitter of the future.
by FirebatM3 on Apr 13, 2009 5:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep.
But the way games are managed needs to change. Not just the way Washington manages, although that needs to change, too.
Say it’s the 7th inning and your two runs up but your starter has thrown a lot of pitches, is getting gas, and puts a couple men on base. That’s when you’d use your Almanzar, to minimize that damage. Whether he takes it all the way to the ninth inning when the “closer” would take over isn’t material. He’d be the guy to put out the fire whenever it is.
Say it’s late in the year and you’re trying to win your division. Starter comes in and gets lit up immediately. If you’re in contention you probably have a decent long man. Bring in your fireman to minimize your early damage so you’re only playing from one or two runs behind.
The stat these guys get would have to have something to do with inherited runners left on base.
Mostly they’d be used in the sixth or seventh innings, though. You need two dominant pitchers in the pen to do it. One to finish the game and one to put out fires. Setup relievers would start innings with nobody on base most of the time and wouldn’t have to be as good as your fireman.
I think a team could scratch out a few more wins that way. You don’t necessarily have to use your very best guys in the last couple innings. It’s silly.
by Black Francis on Apr 13, 2009 6:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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